Montserrat,
a British Overseas Territory located in the Leeward Islands in the
Caribbean Sea has a total land area of 39 square miles and a population
of around 4650. Montserrat has an active volcano whose eruption began in
1995 – it is on a much reduced scale at present. Despite the volcanic
activity, more than half of Montserrat remains lush and green and is
home to a wide variety of rare plants and animals. Its economy is based
on sugar, rum, arrowroot and cotton and the operating budget provided by
UK and through various taxes.

Travel Resources:

The
best time to visit Monterrat is from November through December. The
major activities visitors engage in are volcano watching, birding,
diving, snorkeling, hiking, and turtle watching. The cuisine is a blend
of English, Spanish, French, African, Indian, and Caribbean styles.
Locals generally prefer fish with local bread on the side.

Photo
Exploration of Montserrat by award-winning photographer Igor
Kravtchenko. It depicts the history, culture, traditions and development
after volcanic eruption in 1995 through thumbnail photos and stories.
96 pages.

The
first stamps of Montserrat were a set of two stamps released in 1876
which were overprints on stamps of Antigua depicting Queen Victoria
(QV). The set (Scott #1 to #2)
catalogs for around $100 mint and around $80 used. Some varieties such
as vertical, diagonal half/one-third used on cover fetch into the
thousands. Montserrat came under United Kingdom following the Treaty of
Paris in 1782. It was administered as the Federal Colony of the Leeward
Islands between 1871 and 1958. A few other QV key types and overprints
on Antiguan issues followed during the period from 1880 to 1885. Stamps
of Leeward Islands were used between 1886 and 1903. From 1903 to 1956,
stamps of Leeward Islands and Montserrat were both used. Montserrat
became an independent colony in 1956.

Montserrat
released a set of ten stamps in 1903 showing two themes: Symbol of the
Colony and Portrait of King Edward VII. The set (Scott #12 to #21)
catalogs for around $200 mint and around double that for used. This set
was followed by the same set using a different watermark on chalky
paper between 1904 and 1908. That set (Scott #22 to #31) is also sought after and catalogs for around $250 mint and around $300 used. Used variety of the same set (Scott #31A to #41) released between 1908 and 1913 is the most valuable set in the series cataloging as high as $450.

Other issues of Montserrat enjoying good philatelic interest include:

A
set of ten stamps released on April 18, 1932 to mark the
three-hundredth anniversary of the colonization of Montserrat. The set (Scott #75 to #84)
catalogs for around $325 MNH and around $440 used. The design shows a
view of New Plymouth, harbor, and head portrait of King George V (KGV).
Plymouth is the historic capital of Montserrat, but an eruption in the
previously dormant Soufriere Hills Volcano in 1995 resulted in the
destruction of Plymouth. The center of government is temporarily at
Brades. Two-thirds of the Island’s population fled abroad following the
eruption – the people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights
in the UK in 1998 and citizenship in 2002.

A long set of fourteen stamps released between 1970 and 1974 released in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #231 to #243A)
catalogs for around $55 MNH and around $45 used. The designs show
red-footed booby, killy hawk, frigate bird, white egret, brown pelican,
bananaquilt, common ani, tropic bird, Montserrat oriole, greenthroated
carib, Antillean crested hummingbird, little blue heron, purple-throated
carib, and forest thrush. The same set released between 1972 and 1974 (Scott #231a to #239a)
with the watermarks oriented in the opposite direction catalogs for
around half the value of the original set. Other sets of Montserrat in
the Birds theme include the Audubon Birth Bicentenary set of 1985 (Scott #580 to #583) that catalogs for around $2, the Marine Birds set of 1988 (Scott #667 to #671) that catalogs for around $20, etc.

A set of four stamps released on February 2, 1981 in the Fish theme. The set (Scott #441 to #444)
catalogs for around $5 MNH and around $3 for used. The designs show
spadefish, tropical checkered skipper, large orange sulphur, and
monarch.

A Sheet of nine stamps and a souvenir sheet released on August 6,
1998 showing various portraits of Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead
musician. The set (Scott #955a-i and #956)
catalogs for around $15 MNH or used. Montserrat was popular with many
musicians who preferred recording in its serene setting. A branch of
George Martin’s AIR studios was based in Montserrat between 1979 and
1989. Montserrat has released a couple of other sets showing Jerry
Garcia (Scott #914 to #915 and #970 to #983) and other sets featuring musicians (Elvis Presley – Scott #923 to #926, Bob Marley – Scott #954a-h, etc) over the years.

A long set of sixteen stamps released on October 10, 2001 in the Fruits theme. The set (Scott #1041 to #1056)
catalogs for around $30 MNH or used. The designs show West Indian
cherries, mammee apples, limes, grapefruits, orange, passion fruit,
bananas, papayas, pomegranates, guavas, mangos, sugar apple, cashews,
sour-sops, watermelon, and pineapple.

Numismatic Profile:
Montserrat uses the East Caribbean States Coinage and before that used the currency of the British Caribbean Territories. Certain Commemorative Issues primarily for the numismatic market has also been issued over the years. They are not that collectible yet.Collectible Memorabilia:

Cookbooks, handicrafts and local foods are the typical souvenirs of the place.